Staff Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner - Theatres

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking enthusiastic Band 5 Staff Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner to support the Theatres department across multiple sites. An interest in Anaesthetics, Recovery or Orthopaedics is desirable and registration with NMC or HCPC is required.

The role involves working 24/7 across Theatres Complex including Main Theatres, Day Surgery Unit and other sites. Fixed term contracts are available full time and part time for committed practitioners

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner with NMC or HCPC registration.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).
• Teaching course or qualification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a motivated team and able to work on your own initiative.
• Cover shifts to meet service needs 24/7/365.

Skills

NHS Theatres experience

Band 5

ODP/Nurse

Teamwork

Communication

Time management

Confidentiality

Leadership potential

Clinical governance

Education

Registered Practitioner (NMC/HCPC)

CPD evidence

Teaching course/qualification

Job description

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Staff Nurse/Operating Department Practitioner - Theatres

The closing date is 26 November 2026

Theatres are looking to recruit enthusiastic Band 5 Staff Nurse or Operating Department Practitioners to support this busy Department. We are looking for all round trained Theatre Practitioners. An interest in Anaesthetics, Recovery or Orthopaedics is desirable.

The Theatres Complex at Dorset County Hospital includes: Main Theatres (8 Theatres), Day Surgery Unit (2 Theatres), Weymouth Community Hospital (1 Theatre) and the Procedure Suite at South Walks House. All staff are expected to work across all sites, depending on the needs of the service.

We currently have fixed term contracts (full time and part time) for committed and enthusiastic individuals to complement the established team in delivering high quality care that is rapidly adapting to meet the needs of a diverse local population.

We can offer superb career and professional development opportunities with a structured orientation programme whilst the unit provides a challenging work environment.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We would welcome applications from people in groups which are under-represented in our organisation.

Please note: If you are due to qualify as a fully registered Nurse/ODP before December 2026, we may be able to consider your application through our Newly Qualified route but this must be detailed in your application.

Main duties of the job

You will:

• Be required to work as part of a motivated team as well as being able to work on your own initiative.
• Be expected to work shifts to cover the needs of the service which is 24 hour a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

You have:

• Current NMC/HCPC registration

About us

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate's individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed.

Education and Training

• Registered Practitioner (NMC or HCPC)
• Evidence of CPD
• Teaching course/qualification

Experience

• Minimum 2 years' experience at Band 5 in surgery or theatres in the NHS
• Understanding of professional Theatre Practitioner (staff nurse/ODP) issues

Skills and Knowledge

• Evidence of ability to practice as competent practitioner
• Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors
• Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
• Evidence of an ability to manage time effectively
• Understanding of clinical governance and its requirements
• Evidence of ability to develop leadership skills
• Evidence of an area of special interest
• Knowledge of clinical audit
• Evidence of critical appraisal skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£32,073 to £39,043 a yearPro Rata Per Annum

UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibilitycriteria.

To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.